Folding qash-box



B. C. POSTER.

. FOLDING CASH BOX.

Patented May 13, 1884.

Ill

WITNESSES NITE STATES ATENT rricn.

BENJAMIN C. FOSTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOLDING CASH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,569, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed October 30, 1883. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN O. FOSTER, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Cash-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists of a cash-box made in a number of divisions,which are hinged together and adapted to be folded one upon another, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figurelis a side elevation of my cash-box when folded, the dotted lines showing its position when partly unfolded. Fig. 2 is a plan view of theboxlaid open,being partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of one of the coin-holding blocks.

A indicates a box having two compartments, a a, formed by a partition, b. Each boxAinay have any desired number of such compartments, and each compartment is to be of suitable size for holding bank-notes when thelatter are spread out in a smooth condition. I have shown in the drawings four boxes, A, forming four divisions or sections of the folding box, and these boxes are hinged one to another in regular order, to adapt them to be folded one on top of another.

I am aware that folding boxes are not broadly new; but in my invention it is desirable that the several boxes shall be equal in size and depth, and be capable of being folded together in such manner that one shall rest horizontally upon another, and the whole be reduced to a compass having a base of onefourth the dimensions of the four boxes when opened and spread out. To secure this result the four boxes are arranged in two pairs, the two boxes of each pair being hinged together by hinges O at their upper edges, and the hinges O of both pairs being arranged in alignment with each other. One box of one pair is hinged to one box of the other pair at their lower edges or bottoms by hinges D, so that when the two boxes of each pair are folded one on top of the other one pair of boxes may be folded over on top of the other pair.

To form a partition between the two boxes of each pair, when said boxes are folded one over the other, I provide a lid, E, which is hinged to the outer and upper edge of one of said boxes, and is adapted to shut inward toward the hinges 0, connecting said boxes. By shutting this lid down beforethe two boxes of a pair are folded together,the contents of said boxes will be kept separate.

For assorting and keeping account of coins, I provide one or more blocks, F F, having semi-cylindrical grooves G, which are to be made of a length for holding a given number of coins when the latter are set upon their edges side to side. These grooves are to be of different diameters corresponding to the sizes of coins of the usual denominations.

At the ends of each grooveG are formed depressions H, for the thumb and forefinger of one hand when removing the coins from the groove. Besides the grooves, a hemispherical depression, I, may be formed in one of the blocks for holding one-cent pieces. With this construction the coins are kept assorted,so that when the grooves are filled with the same the amount in the blocks may be ascertained at a glance, and the labor of counting the sum at the end of a days work is thus saved. The blocks are to be put in the boxes,which remain at the bottom when the several boxes are folded together, in order that the coins may not be displaced in the act of folding the boxes together. The blocks F F are to be made removable, in order that the series of boxes may be used for currency alone, if desired. In such case two or more boxes may be used one for currency and the other for coin. The boxes are to be made of greater or less capacity, to suit the requirements of different business-houses. \Vhen the boxes are folded together, they are to be clamped together by steel strips J, having flanges K at the ends which hook over or under the beads L, formed on the edges of the boxes. These strips are to be bent slightly outward from the box at their centers, so that by pressing against said centers the ends will be expanded to enable the flanges to slip over the beads L and clamp them firmly. They may be removed by sliding them along the beads to the corners of the boxes, where they will slip off. The topmost box is provided with a ring, M, by which the entire device, with its contents, may be taken up after being folded together and deposited in a safe or vault for the night.

IVhen folded, the device occupies compara- 1. The combination of the four boxes A, ar-

ranged in pairs, the hinges 0, connecting the two boxes of each pair together at their upper edges, thesaid hinges being arranged in alignment with each other, and the hinges D, connecting one box of one pair with one box of 15 another pair at their lower edges or bottoms substantially as shown and leseribed, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the boxes A, hinged together, as described, and having beads L, 20

and the clamps J, having flanges K at their ends, substantially as'shown and described.

BENJ. G. FOSTER. lVitnesses:

A. G. LYNE, SoLoN O. KEMON. 

